Mainers follow Supreme Court health care debate

Augusta, Maine (NEWS CENTER)  – Some Mainers are in Washington Tonight watching the Supreme Court proceedings very closely.

Attorney General William Schneider is observing the arguments as a representative of one of the 26 states that filed the suit. Democratic State Senator Margaret Craven of Lewiston attended a rally on the steps of the Supreme Court and spoke out in support of President Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act.

While all that played out in our nation’s capitol, people turned out in our state’s capitol to present their take on the debate. A small crowd gathered on the steps of the Superior Courthouse in August in protest of President Obama’s healthcare plan.

Opponents of the plan say the Supreme Court decision on the mandatory health insurance aspect of the plan will have far reaching implications beyond the issue of healthcare.

“If the us government can force us to buy a product, that means we have no freedom left. That is an all encompassing law, so this particular law is about healthcare, but it means much much more”, said Carol Weston of Americans for Prosperity.

At the Maine Statehouse Democratic Senator Seth Goodall says he understands the constitutional concerns of the mandate, but he believes the high court will uphold it.

“Obviously those are always valid concerns, but as we have talked about, constitutional scholars have said that this is constitutional and it’s about having people take responsibility for their healthcare”, he said.

Tomorrow the Supreme Court Justices will take up the issue of whether or the plan can still stand if the health insurance mandate part of it is removed.

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/194957/2/Mainers-follow-Supreme-Court-health-care-debate